2005

It has been five years since Henri Pescarolo hung up his helmet and started seeking victories as team boss. Everything seems to point towards the fact that this year is the year for Pescarolo Sport. 

The cars would set off for a timed double lap in the heat, and the two Pescarolos confirmed the good impression they had made in practice. They quickly stood out from the Audis. After less than two hours of racing however, one of the two French cars collided on a bend with a slower competitor.

Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of the second Pescarolo to experience a setback due to a gearbox problem. The car finally left its pit lane albeit with a significant delay. It would make up the lost places one by one throughout the night. 

Only the Audi no. 3 remained in front of it in the early hours, and whilst within range, the engine was being tested by this mad ascent as it began to show weaknesses. The other threat was the retirement of the second Pescarolo who finally convinced the crew of the no. 16 to secure second place, while all of the Audis remained in the race.

Tom Kristensen, who was behind the wheel of the Audi no. 3 in the final hour of the race had no hesitation in increasing his lead. The formidable Audi R8 secured its final victory at Le Mans and the Danish driver was celebrating a seventh success. 

The previous record of six 24 Hours victories held by Jacky Ickx had been broken.

A week before the start of the race at 6 p.m. on Saturday 11th June, 2005, the President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the Mayor of Le Mans paid tribute to the victims 50 years to the day after the disaster on 11th June, 1955.

The commemorative plaque unveiled on this occasion on the pit straight still brings back the memory today of the most tragic accident in the history of motorsport.

Testing, and a few rare archive images of the drama have been retained.

Quentin Baillieux directed an animated short film, Le Mans in 1955. This work of fiction is available free of charge on the Univers Court YouTube channel.